Is Law School Worth It?
According to the Education Data Initiative, the average cost of law school in the US is $220,335. Beyond explicit monetary cost, one should also be wise to consider the opportunity cost of attending law school — defined as the next best alternative forgone.
The time spent in law school could be time spent working in a job, with the potential earnings forgone across the years in college. Given that your opportunity cost is the same, whether you go to any law school or to a great law school, it’s worth considering how much difference going to a top school or attending an Ivy League school can add value to that time spent.
A career in the law may involve not only higher-than-average levels of stress. Working as a lawyer can also be highly adversarial and require long hours, demanding billable targets, and punishing deadlines. Many lawyers end up leaving practice for “greener pastures” or to work in roles with better work-life balance, as lawyering can take an intense mental and emotional toll on someone.
With burnout being a common enough occurrence in the legal world, and the phenomena of quiet quitting in the larger world of work, it is important that an aspiring law student is prepared and aware of the realities of legal work.
In many countries, your stint in law school won’t get you over the finish line. You’ll also need to pass a licensing exam to practice law. If you struggle to pass the exam, that can mean more delays before you’re fully qualified for the best jobs.
In the US, almost every state requires a bar exam. And, most states have their own licensing requirements, which means that most lawyers are restricted to practicing law within a single state. To practice law in a new state or multiple states typically means jumping through additional licensing hoops.
Given the stresses of the legal profession and law school, finding genuine interest and fostering a passion in the law is of paramount importance. Too many students enter law school without the right level of commitment.
If you’re passionate about law and law school studies, but think working as a lawyer isn’t the right career for you, first ask yourself if there might be some branches of law or kinds of legal practice that would be more agreeable.
If you do rule out working as a lawyer, then with some additional qualifications, you might leverage your law degree to qualify for jobs in business, finance, real estate, nonprofit leadership or management, postsecondary education, politics, or lobbying.
As with any major decision we make in our lives, considering and weighing the pros and cons based on personal circumstances and aspirations is of paramount importance. Spend some time introspecting to find your ‘why’ — in this case, with regard to the pursuit of law school.
While law school comes with its stresses and challenges, lawyers have exceptional opportunities to find intellectually stimulating and well-remunerated employment. For the purpose-driven individual, a law degree provides a powerful tool for social good and social change. And, even if you move into an alternate career path, you’ll leave law school with a plethora of valuable and transferable skills.
So, what’s your next step now? We encourage you to seek advice from current law students, practicing lawyers, and career counselors who may have nuggets of wisdom they can share with you to help better inform your decision-making process.
What makes Crimson different is that we’re dedicated to assisting you in the decisions and actions that will make your dream of attending law school — even a great law school — more attainable. Book a free consultation with a Crimson counselor today. Together, let’s explore your potential for a rewarding law career and kickstart your path to success!
Keith Nickolaus
